Note: US FDA Disclaimer
Recently the media has portrayed acai as the number 1 superfood. This is because the very high concentration of antioxidants, omega fatty acids and other good fats, carbs, fiber, amino acids and other nutrients is responsible for the many health benefits that acai has to offer. Below is a nutritional analysis of some quality freeze dried acai products such as the ones offered on this website:
Nutritional analysis (per 100g):
| carbohydrate | 52.2g |
| fat | 32.5g |
| amino acids | 8.1g |
| antioxidants | ** |
| phytosterols | ** |
** Micronutrient — not a significant contribution by weight
Most of the media attention that has surrounded acai has been due to its extremely high level of antioxidants. However the carbohydrates (and fiber), “good” fats, amino acids and phytosterols also play a huge roll in the benefits of acai.
From the above analysis you can see the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, amino acids and other nutrients in acai. Below we will take a look at these components and discuss the benefits of each.
Antioxidants have received a lot of attention in the media. And probably with good cause. Oxidative stress is thought to contribute to a wide range of diseases including:
Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals which start chain reactions which can damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions and can therefore prevent cell damage. Antioxidants may also provide other benefits such as boosting the immune system and improving recovery of muscle damage due to oxidative stress due to activity. Popular supplements which contain oxidative properties are vitamins A, C and E.
Acai has one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants of any food. This is one of the reasons it is considered the number one superfood. In addition to popular antioxidants like Vitamin A, acai has one of the highest concentrations of an antioxidant called anthocyanin. In addition to some of the benefits above, it has potential health affects against:
The yardstick for comparing antioxidant properties of foods is the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). And with an ORAC substantially higher than almost any other food, it is easy to see why acai is considered the number one superfood. According to data published in 2005 by the USDA in the journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, one could compare acai’s results to common fruits vegetables on a gram basis as shown in table below:
| Fruit | ORAC |
|---|---|
| Acai fruit | 610 |
| Cranberry | 94 |
| Blueberry | 92 |
| Plums | 73 |
| Blackberry | 53 |
| Raspberry | 48 |
| Apple | 43 |
| Strawberry | 36 |
| Cherries | 34 |
| Avocado | 19 |
| Pears | 19 |
| Orange | 18 |
Phytosterols are plant sterols involved in fat metabolism. Acai contains a high concentration of a phytosterol called beta-sitosterol. Beta-sitosterol is thought to reduce blood levels of cholesterol and therefore prevent heart disease.
| Fiber | 44.2g |
| Other carbs (sugars and complex) | 8.0g |
| Total carbs | 52.2g |
In a 100 gram sample, there were 52.2 grams of carbohydrates — or just over half the weight of the sample. Of these carbohydrates, 44.2 grams were fiber. This is an enormous amount of fiber. But the benefits of fiber are many. It can help by:
The remainder of the carbohydrates are sugars or complex carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are necessary for fueling normal activity.
The second highest component of acai was fat. But the majority of these fats are good fats — omega (unsaturated) fatty acids. The Omega-6 fatty acid is an essential fatty acid. Essential fatty acids are those that cannot be manufactured by the body and can only be obtained through dietary intake. The following provides a further breakdown of the fats in acai:
| oleic acid | 18.2g | (56% of the fats) |
| linoleic acid | 4.2g | (13% of the fats) |
| palmitic acid | 7.8g | (24% of the fats) |
| Total fats | 32.5g |
Below we will look at the function of each type of fat.
Also known as omega-9 fatty acid, oleic acid is the same fat that makes up 55-80% of olive oil. Mediterranean diets which use a lot of healthy fats like olive oil have been known to reduce blood pressure and reduce the incidence of heart diseases like:
Oleic acid may also aid in preventing some forms of cancer.
Linoleic acid is also know as the omega-6 fatty acid. As mentioned above, this is an essential fatty acid that cannot be manufactured by the body and must be obtained through dietary intake. Deficiencies in this nutrient can cause:
The third major component of acai is amino acids. Amino acids are essential for life and play a variety of roles in metabolism. One very important role is to serve as the building blocks of protein. Along with carbohydrates and fats, the amino acids in acai make a complete food.
Acai is considered by many as the number one superfood because of the high concentration of antioxidants, fiber, “good” fats and other nutrients. These nutrients may help provide the following health benefits:
To read product reviews
or purchase Acai Berry products
see the Online Store
The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the Bayside Laboratories or the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.
You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.
You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
Diet News
